Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko believes the contentious umpiring decision to call advantage deep in the last quarter of the grand final was ‘a bit tough’, saying there was ‘no way’ teammate Zac Bailey could have heard the original whistle.
The Lions were awarded a free kick just outside 50 when Lachie Neale was tripped up by Collingwood’s Oleg Markov, only for the umpire to call play on when Bailey quickly kicked forward under heavy pressure, unaware that the free had been paid.
The Magpies were able to repel and hold on for a four-point win, but speaking on SEN Q, Zorko described the call as ‘extraordinary’.
“I was in good line with the umpire, and I mean, it was extraordinary given that they hadn’t paid an advantage all day,” he said.
“I thought it was a bit tough… I heard that there’s been a few headlines around Zac knowing that it was [a free kick] and that he shouldn’t have taken the advantage – he had no idea.
“I mean, he was getting wrangled around the neck at the time that his foot hit the ball.
“It [the crowd noise] was so loud and deafening. It was only the fact that I’d seen the umpire visually pay the free kick and blow the whistle that I knew it was a free kick. But it was so loud, there’s no way he could have heard it as a player.
“It was just phenomenal, but it is what it is.”
Zorko’s reaction comes amid furore from the footy world over the non-decision, with former teammate Tom Rockliff taking to X to proclaim the Lions were ‘robbed’.
Speaking on SEN’s Whateley, prominent AFL commentator Gerard Whateley agreed, labelling the decision ‘flat out wrong’.
“There has to be an intent to claim advantage and Bailey had no such intent. He scrambled a kick with no knowledge the whistle had been blown,” Whateley said.
“The umpire’s duty was to recall the ball and let Neale take the free kick, which he had earned.
“We’ll never know what might have happened.”
Following Bailey’s kick, a Darcy Moore spoil saw the ball spill to Nick Daicos, who quickly passed to Will Hoskin-Elliott to regain possession for Collingwood.
The Lions would never threaten to score again, with Tom Mitchell winning a free kick for high contact shortly after and ensuring the Pies would run out the clock.
The Lions were also made to rue conceding goals after the quarter time and half time sirens to the Magpies, the former to Jordan De Goey and the latter to Jack Crisp, that likewise proved crucial in deciding the result.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you've been reading my posts over the years, you'd see I was a great Magpies fan when the usual 'everyone' hated them. I supported Buckley and Eddie when the usual pile-ons happened. McRae only made them better. The Maynard decision changed all that. The GWS umpiring made it worse and the GF drove it home. It seems to hurt you that I, someone you have no connection or association with, don't recognise Collingwood as valid Premiers. It seems like you are the unhappy one who needs to move on. You don't have to read my posts. I post, you respond, I answer your response. If you don't want to hear it anymore, you know what to do; but you keep the conversation alive. If you have been on The Roar, the one thing clear is my love of AFL and cricket. You needn't worry about my happiness. I walk in constant delight. Even upsetting people who are trying to gloat in an asterisk flag delights me. Amusing riposte, Michael.
Michael
Roar Rookie
Ok Don it's clear you don't like the Pies I understand that you know with all the flags and stuff it must be grating I'd hate them too if I didn't barrack for them but it seems to be eating you up inside. It's just a game move on Don choose happiness.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Well then, it's strange you complain to those of us who see it as an AFL gifted flag. I don't believe you are totally comfortable with it because you are trying to convince us that you're good with it...rather than just living life. Each post you make expresses that discomfort. Keep trying.
Michael
Roar Rookie
I can confirm I continue to feel good about it and you can continue to please yourself. How you rationalize the reality that the Pies are premiers is totally up to you but know it ain't changing for at least another 51 weeks. Go Pies!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It still applies. The fact it needs repeating says much about you, not me.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
What names for you think you've been called?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Yeah, nah. You've used that one before too. It's a different spin on the old, "it doesn’t make sense to you” line. You need to be more creative. Perhaps work on it during the offseason.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
I could explain to you how and why Collingwood won the premiership but it seems you've cracked the sads over that. Your name calling when called out/shown up is beyond pathetic.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you don't try so hard to look for something cryptic, you'll make sense of it. The clue is in the words. Read them.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
That sentence makes no sense. You'll riposte with your usual, " it doesn't make sense to you." But... seriously, it makes no sense. Of course, a ball can bounce to an equalised distribution. A Sherrin is not a perfect sphere and, therefore, will randomly bounce in this example, which is why I said 'random' above. To say balls don't bounce according to an 'equalised' distribution is an incorrect generalisation. I've never heard someone describe the force vectors of a bouncing ball in this manner, either, but good on you for trying.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Balls don't bounce according to an equalised distribution. It's an oval ball.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Any footy comments to offer? There's not much wrong with this site. There's the occasional troll but you'll lose interest and go back to one of your other playgrounds.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Well, if it just came down to the random bounce of an oval ball, your boys should have won a premiership by now.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
27.6 thousand comments, hey? And not one of them was wrong! I smell a retired teacher who really, really requires a captive audience. People like you are what's wrong with sites like this.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Are you not enjoying the asterisk flag? I can't help that. You could just put your head in the sand and pretend it was won on its merits.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You do misunderstand. You refer to historical record of what happened. It doesn't mean that record will be repeated in games to come. Pay attention to the conversation...or start a new thread and see if there's any interest.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
'The whole AFL . . . ' Yeah right. Knew you had tickets on yourself but now you are 'the whole AFL.' What a pathetic line to take, Don. Watching our great game obviously makes you miserable. Do us all a favour and retire from commenting.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
'I'm the one who rejects stats, . . . ' That's hilarious. You use them ALL the time. Fyffe, Tabs, Serong . . . the whole Freo list ad nauseum. And let's not forget your hang up with Dusty. You're embarrassing yourself again but your arrogance won't allow you to understand that.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You're imagining that. Stats are just an historical record, not a predictor. I'm the one who rejects stats, suggesting that watching sport is more accurate. You're probably missing the point. I'm more like Linus than Charlie Brown.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
Really foolish comment. A 'Don Freo' type comment!